Chapter 5 - Final Thoughts for Departure

Well tonight marks the last night I'll be in Ireland. It is a bittersweet goodbye, because I'm extremely excited for our next country and next adventure, but I don't know when I'll be back again. These last four days have been, in a word, triumphant. I was able to see and do many of the things I wanted to do while in Ireland. I've traveled through three of the four regions, I've been to historical buildings, I've met some locals, I've met some tourists, I've experienced Ireland.

For our last day in Ireland we finished up the few things we hadn't had a chance to do yet. We started the day with the Jameson Distillery (because who doesn't need some good ole whiskey in the morning, I mean we're on vacation!). We toured the distillery and my mother was one of the 8 selected to be a prized taste tester (we all got some Jameson, but she got some Jack Daniels and some Johnny Walker too!). After the tour we walked back along the River Liffey and decided to take another look at the Temple Bar district.While we were over there we had time to stop in and see the inside of Christ Church Cathedral. The most amazing part for me was going down into the crypt, where there was still some of the original building from the 14th century! I also found out that the hit series "The Tudors" was filmed in the Cathedral.

After we left the church, we went back out to the River and walked along it towards O'Connell St (which is where our hotel is located). I decided I wanted to take one last look at Grafton St and St Stephens Green. After a bit of souvenir shopping, we came back to the hotel to drop off some things and get ready for dinner, and what a dinner we had.

For our farewell dinner in Ireland, I followed the advice of a few colleagues of mine and went to The Brazen Head for a night of folklore and fairies. This dinner was incredible. Our storyteller for the night, Johnny, started off with a very slight history of Ireland and the potato famine, which lead into Irish food. We then broke for an appetizer (I had the fish cakes), before Johnny came back in and told more tales of Irish beliefs and folklore. Then the main course came along (I had Irish Lamb Stew) and two Irish musicians came to play some traditional Irish music. The woman was playing an Irish violin which was made clear back in the 1700s and was played in the Brazen Head over 300 hundred years ago! The man started with an accordion, then switched over to the guitar. They sang and played and told some stories while we dined on traditional Irish food. People were clapping along and laughing and talking. Afterwards, the desserts came in (I had apple pie) and the lights dimmed, and Johnny came back out and told us some traditional Irish stories that had been passed down for generations. It was the absolute perfect end to a great time in Ireland.

While here in Ireland, we had amazing weather (only rained one day!), great food, and some memorable moments. So far neither of us have been injured (just a moment while I go knock on wood... ok I'm back), neither of us have gotten lost (although if I hadn't been here with my mother, she may have ended up lost!), and both of us have had a great time! Whether it be it's beautiful countryside and scenery, it's deep history, or just the local craic at a pub, Ireland truly is an amazing country that has a lot to offer. I hope to be back again soon, but for now I have to keep my eyes pointing forward, because this adventure is just getting started. Tomorrow morning brings us a ferry ride to Wales to meet our guides for four days, so it's off to bed a little early (hopefully) tonight so I can be well rested for the next great country. Until then...